Tennis

Del Potro edges Blake in 5-setter in 2nd round

Published Jan. 20, 2010 10:59 a.m. ET

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U.S. Open champion Juan Martin del Potro has advanced to the third round of Australian Open, beating American James Blake 6-4, 6-7 (3), 5-7, 6-3, 10-8 in match that lasted 4 hours, 17 minutes.

Del Potro, who beat Roger Federer in last year's final at Flushing Meadows, had a chance to serve for the match at 6-5 in the fifth after breaking Blake. However, Blake broke back immediately, helped by two errors from the 21-year-old Argentine, to extend it.

Del Potro again broke Blake for a 9-8 lead and another chance to serve it out. This time he closed with a big serve out to Blake's backhand side on his first match point.

Blake fell to 4-13 in five-set matches.

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